Structural member



y 1939- H. c. SAHLMANN 2,159,182

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed Dec. 14, 1938 fazvenfoi:

Patented May 23, 1939 STATES PATENT GFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in structural members and aims toprovide means for attaching a wall covering to steel framing by the useof conventional nails. The invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed disclosure, when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure l is an elevation of a portion of a wall covering which is heldin place bynails received by my improved structural member; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 11-11 of Figure1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a plurality of pressed steelsubstantially U-shaped members III are secured to suitable uprightstudding,

not shown. Each member I0 is 01 modified U- shaped form, as shown in theenlarged cross-section in Figure 2, the web I2 being disposed in a planeintermediate the outer extremities |4-l4 and I6--l6 of the flangeportions and the portions of the web adjacent the points of junctionwith the flanges being bent as shown, thus forming inclined naildeflecting walls l1l|.

At suitably spaced intervals the flanges I6 are slitted, as indicated atl8, thus providing inwardly inclined lips 20 whose inner ends terminatein a plane intermediate the planes of junction between the inclined walland said web and flanges. The slit portions l8, in cooperating with thelips 20, form nail receiving apertures. As thus arranged, when nails 22are driven into wall panels or sheathing 24, the point of each nail willfirst pass through the slit l8 and, as it continues inwardly under thedriving force of the 35 hammer, will strike the inclined wall H,whereupon a. cam-like action will be exerted and it will react againstthe extremity of the lip 20 and thus be bent or curved around so as totom the hook shaped end 26. Thus the nails may be said to beself-clinching when used in combination with the supporting elements ofthe structure and configuration described. The nail is gripped tightlybetween the edge of the slit l8 and the extremity of the bent-in portionof the lip and is thus securely held.

It is contemplated that various detail changes may be made withoutdeparture from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a channel-shaped supporting element comprising a pairof opposite flat parallel flanges, a flat web portion spaced inwardlyfrom the edges of the flanges and connected thereto by respectiveoblique portions whose outer extremities join respective flanges atouter edges thereof, the flanges being slit opposite the obliqueportions, a wall panel whose inner face abuts an outer face of one ofsaid flanges, and a nail piercing said element and passing through aslit in said flange and engaging said oblique portion.

2. In combination, an upright stud of substantially channel shapecomprising a pair of opposite parallel flanges, a web portion spacedinwardly from the edges of the flanges and connected thereto byoppositely inclined coextensive oblique portions whose outer extremitiesjoin respective flanges at outer edges thereof, the flanges being slitat a region opposite the oblique portions and provided with inwardlybent lips adjacent the slit portions, a wall covering element whoseinner face abuts one or said flanges, a nail piercing the element andpassing through one of said slits and engaging one of said lips and theoblique wall adjacent thereto.

HARRY C. SAHLMANN.

